shogo aratani architect & associates: trapezoid

‘trapezoid’ by shogo aratani architect & associates in hyogo, japan all images courtesy shogo aratani architect & associates image © kaori ichikawa

japanese practice shogo aratani architect & associates has shared with us images of ‘trapezoid’, a multi-storey ceramic atelier and dwelling for a young family of three in hyogo, japan. situated on a sloping plot, the design works around a set of strict local building regulations to create a trapezoidal floor plan that incorporates elements of the outdoors into the interior.

street elevation image © kaori ichikawa

requiring a maximum built plot ratio of 40%, a wall setback of 2m from the road and 1m from the adjacent plot, the footprint of the residence was whittled down to a plan measuring 8 by 9m. as the volume rises, the trapezoid gradually shifts inwards to become a square, creating an angular ridge that forms the west-facing facade. the titanium-zinc alloy cladding of the exterior exaggerates this feature by changing the direction of its panels, resulting in a visually-dynamic elevation.

interior view of entrance gallery image © kaori ichikawa

simple and pragmatic, the overall layout of the interior was determined by the requirements of the programs: the ground floor and basement levels were treated as a public zone with an open-space atelier that could serve as a light-filled gallery. the height differences across the site enabled the layered configuration to distinctly separate the atelier from the residential zone on the second and third floors. a sense of continuity and fluidity is established by a series of void spaces that vertically pierce through the house, allowing indirect natural daylight to filter down each level.

atelier on basement level image © kaori ichikawa